The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics has long been defined by legendary matchups. From Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird to Kobe Bryant vs. Paul Pierce, some of basketball’s greatest icons have clashed in this historic battle. Saturday night’s meeting will be no different, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic taking on a Celtics squad led by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis.
Both teams currently hold the No. 2 seed in their respective conferences, making this a potential NBA Finals preview. The Lakers enter the matchup riding an eight-game winning streak and will look to improve their 15-14 road record in a critical point of the season. Meanwhile, Boston will aim to even the season series after suffering a blowout loss (117-96) to LA on January 23.
Ahead of the much-anticipated game, the NBA shared a special post on its official X account, spotlighting James and Tatum’s elite company in league history.
According to the NBA, James and Tatum are the only two players ever to reach 13,000 points, 4,000 rebounds, and 2,000 assists before turning 27.
The only two players in NBA history to record 13K PTS, 4K REB and 2K AST before they turned 27 years old:
LeBron James
Jayson TatumThe two superstars go head-to-head on Saturday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/b8oUYEavFA
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2025
Tatum, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Monday, is enjoying another dominant season. The six-time All-Star is on track to become the first Celtics player to average 25+ points per game for four consecutive seasons, currently posting 26.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.5% from the field.
Meanwhile, James continues to defy time in his 22nd season, maintaining an MVP-level impact at age 40. The four-time MVP is averaging 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.5 assists, shooting an efficient 51.8% from the field. Earlier this week, James became the first player in NBA history to eclipse 50,000 combined career points in the Lakers’ win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
